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WQ.183/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd JUNE 2020
Question
Will the Minister confirm what actions, beyond discussions, will be taken within the next month to embed green transport initiatives into our infrastructure, with particular reference to schemes enabling more cycling, safe walking and other forms of transport, both –
- in St. Helier specifically; and
- across Jersey more widely?
Answer
As Jersey progresses through the Government's Safe Exit Framework we will take the actions necessary to support the management of the Coronavirus crisis recovery, including sustainable transport. This will be led by the public health advice and supported by what the scientific evidence tells us.
This situation is rapidly evolving and the details of the work remain policy under development, the programme at this time is provisional, as a number of work streams are being undertaken in parallel and require consultation with key stakeholders prior to any public announcement
- For town a progressive programme of potential measures has been developed in consultation with the Parish of St Helier and schemes will be individually consulted upon as they are brought forward, it is anticipated that a number of these will be actioned during the next 4 weeks to provide new or widened walking routes and cycle parking.
The types of initiatives under development for delivery over the period and the longer-term include:
• Reallocation of road space to support new or widened walking and cycling routes.
• Improving walking and cycling on key routes to schools.
• Re-routing of existing cycle routes to reduce conflicts with pedestrians.
• Provision of additional physical cycle racks and virtual cycle stands to support initiatives such as the Evie shared cycle scheme (this technology does not require a physical rack as the bikes have stands, but rather a GPS coordinated area marked with road paint).
• Bus shelters.
In terms of prioritisation, we will first be supporting the public health need by providing spaces for pedestrians to physically distance, whilst looking at any secondary benefits that can be realised, such as cycle routes and the creation of alfresco dining areas. In the case of many places of refreshment this will be critical in allowing them to safely reopen during current social distancing restrictions.
We will also be identifying where additional space will enable businesses to get back to work by providing space for queuing outside of retailers and allow life to begin to feel normal again. We do know that reallocating space for walking and cycling also provides new more direct or less congested alternative routes. The recent changes to traffic management in Broad St are an early example of the type of measures under consideration.
- Across Jersey more widely, we will follow the same blueprint for St Helier as outlined above, proportionate to the localised impact. An example of this type of initiative that has been undertaken was the closing of La Grève de Lecq harbour road to provide for social distancing over the recent bank holiday weekend.
The allocation of the limited resources available has to be balanced against the demands on our officers' time from other on Covid-19 priorities, thus we have to direct our efforts where the need is most acute and where we can have the greatest impact, starting in the centre of St Helier were footfall is highest and working outwards.